sighting
Britishnoun
-
an occasion on which something is seen
-
Another name for sight
Explanation
A sighting is an instance of discovering or observing something. You might use your telescope to watch the night sky for hours in the hope of a UFO sighting. Your friend, an avid birdwatcher, gets excited at every woodpecker or heron sighting he makes, while you're more interested in sightings of used bookstores. A sighting of your favorite pop star — a quick glimpse as she ducks into a limousine — might be thrilling for you and your friend! Sighting, "an instance of catching sight," dates from the mid-19th century.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Researchers are hoping to build a clearer picture of how endangered basking sharks use and behave in Manx waters, as sightings of the species have risen this year.
From BBC • Jul. 11, 2026
The two new sightings, both from the Central Pacific, greatly expand the species' known range.
From Science Daily • Jul. 8, 2026
Drones can’t fly near airports, but the Federal Aviation Administration receives about 100 reports of sightings a month.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 29, 2026
Combining traditional sightings with modern technologies such as satellite tracking could provide a clearer picture of their movements, behavior, and conservation needs.
From Science Daily • Jun. 26, 2026
“But one night, there were ten sightings in ten different parts of town. The next night twenty. By the next week, we had fifty of them and...”
From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
